Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      There is no scheduled test of the fire alarm during this meeting. If the alarm does sound, please leave the building quickly without collecting any of your possessions, using the doors signed as fire escapes.

(b)      Assemble outside where directed. Await instructions before re-entering the building.

(c)      Anyone who requires assistance in evacuating the building, should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

Councillors Alastair Gould, Mike Henderson and Hannah Perkin disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as members of Swale Friends of the Earth.

Councillors Mike Henderson and Tim Valentine disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as Trustees of Faversham Swimming Pools.

Councillor Lloyd Bowen disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as Chair of Teynham Village Hall.

Councillor Carole Jackson disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as a Trustee of West Faversham Community Association.

To approve the Minutes  of the meeting held on 16 June 2022 (Minute Nos. 97 – 107) as correct records.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 June 2022 (Minute Nos. 97 – 107) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Members noted the progress on actions.

Flooding in Whitstable Road and other parts of Faversham

Members noted the update in the Agenda pack and considered Southern Water’s (SW) response to the capacity issues raised was not satisfactory.  In particular their commitment to significantly reduce the frequency of CSO (Combined Sewer Overflows) discharges by 2030 seemed a long way off.  A Member said that they had a duty to ensure new houses had sufficient sewage capacity.  A Member raised the issue of sewage discharges in the Faversham Creek area.  Councillor Julian Saunders, in his capacity of Vice-Chair, said he was happy to respond to SW on behalf of the Eastern Area Committee and he would include the comments made.

A member of the public asked for an update on the water run-off issues at Faversham Recreation Ground.  The Head of Environment and Leisure advised that Swale Borough Council (SBC) and Kent County Council (KCC) would be carrying out some trial digs with a view to installing larger soak-aways.  They would also be looking at other mechanisms to slow water run-off in Park Road and Whitstable Road.

Lack of waste bins and removal of bins

Members reported areas where they believed it would be beneficial to place bins.  The Head of Environment and Leisure asked that any information be passed to him for his team to review.  He also agreed his team would keep Ward Members updated on issues related to waste bins and would consult with volunteer litter picking groups when reviewing locations of waste bins.

A member of the public spoke about anti-social behaviour problems in new developments, in particular Breeze Meadow, Pugg Mill Close, Brick Earth Mews, Flattie Way and Bond Close, Faversham.  She had tried to set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme but had been unsuccessful.  Councillor Ben J Martin referred her to My Community Voice where Kent Police shared details for setting up Neighbourhood Watch schemes which could be found via this link: https://members.mycommunityvoicekent.co.uk/Login?ReturnUrl=%2F.  The Chair advised that all incidents should be reported by telephoning 101 as it would trigger involvement of relevant agencies who would develop an action plan.  Issues should also be raised with the Ward Councillor/s for the area.

Councillor Lloyd Bowen raised the issue of repeated missed bin collections.  The Head of Environment and Leisure had explained there had been difficulties in recent weeks but where relevant it was possible to penalise the contractor.  He said that 99% of bins were collected correctly but acknowledged the impact on residents when it went wrong.

Councillor Carole Jackson advised there had been a number of freshwater leaks which had not been repaired and asked how they could be reported as they would become dangerous in the winter during freezing conditions.  The Vice-Chair agreed to write to South-East Water to report the issue.

The Eastern Area Committee was allocated a total of £40,000.00 for the financial year 2022/23.  The funding scheme was opened-up for external organisations to apply and the closing date for bids was Monday 1 August 2022.  £27,237.00 of bids were received for consideration by the Committee.  This meant that there was potentially £12,763.00 funding remaining. All applications were assessed for eligibility by officers and a scoring process carried out.  Officers submitted two options for the Committee to vote on as set out in pages 13 to 14 of the report.

Councillor Eddie Thomas proposed that Option 1 be selected and this was seconded by Councillor Mike Henderson.

On being put to the vote Option 1 was agreed.

The Committee were asked to consider how they would like the remaining £12,763.00 to be allocated. It was agreed to hold a second funding round and the Policy and Engagement Officer would publicise the details at the beginning of October 2022.  The Committee discussed which of their priorities they would like bids to support. 

Councillor Hannah Perkin proposed that bids should support interventions around the cost-of-living crisis and this was seconded by Councillor Mike Whiting.

On being put to the vote it was agreed that bids for the £12,763.00 of remaining funding should support interventions around the cost-of-living crisis.

The Policy & Engagement Officer would consult with officers to refine the priority in advance of launching a second funding round.  Officers would carry out an assessment process on bids received and proposals would come back to the December 2022 meeting for consideration.

Resolved:

1)    That £27,237.00 funding be awarded to projects in the following proportions:

a)    Youth Resilience UK CIC - £1,560.00

b)   West Faversham Community Association - £4,000.00

c)    Faversham Swimming Pools - £10,000.00

d)   Swale Friends of the Earth - £1,233.00

e)    Teynham Parish Council - £5,444.00

f)     Oare Village Hall - £5,000.00

2)    That bids for the £12,763.00 of remaining funding should support interventions around the cost-of-living crisis.

No issues were raised.

It was agreed that the Vice-Chair, Councillor Julian Saunders, would write to SW on behalf of Eastern Area Committee to respond to the issues Members raised regarding capacity and sewage discharges.